1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1970–71 Seattle SuperSonics season was the Seattle SuperSonics 4th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their second season with Lenny Wilkens as head coach, the Sonics finished in 8th place in the Western Conference with a 38–44 record.

Trouble arose with the injury of top scorer Bob Rule, who tore his Achilles tendon three games into the season during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers and lost him for the remainder of the season.

Offseason
During the offseason, the SuperSonics traded 10-year veteran Bob Boozer and their first round selection from the 1969 NBA draft, Lucius Allen to the Milwaukee Bucks for Don Smith (later known as Zaid Abdul-Aziz). Despite the early retirement announcement made by 24-year-old Smith to the Sonics' front office, he joined the team and played in 61 games in the regular season.

Draft picks
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.

Season standings

 * z – clinched division title
 * y – clinched division title
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Game log
8,153
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 1
 * October 14
 * Detroit
 * L 117–123
 * Bob Rule (37)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 0–1

11,617
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 2
 * October 17
 * Boston
 * W 126–114
 * Bob Rule (36)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 1–1

6,923
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 3
 * October 21
 * Phoenix
 * W 110–106
 * Bob Rule (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 2–1

9,201
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 4
 * October 23
 * Portland
 * W 141–111
 * Dick Snyder (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 3–1

9,340
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 5
 * October 25
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 107–126
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 3–2

2,835
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 6
 * October 26
 * @ Detroit
 * L 111–142
 * Don Smith (19)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 3–3

14,471
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 7
 * October 27
 * @ New York
 * L 104–117
 * Lenny Wilkens (24)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 3–4

1,623
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 8
 * October 28
 * @ Cincinnati
 * L 118–131
 * Don Smith (25)
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * 3–5

4,344
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 9
 * October 30
 * @ Portland
 * W 115–104
 * Lenny Wilkens (35)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 4–5

5,727
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 10
 * October 31
 * Chicago
 * W 122–119
 * Lenny Wilkens (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 5–5

8,244
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 11
 * November 3
 * @ Chicago
 * L 101–113
 * Lenny Wilkens (18)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 5–6

2,093
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 12
 * November 4
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 126–101
 * Tom Meschery (22)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * 6–6

5,852
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 13
 * November 6
 * @ Boston
 * L 94–116
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 6–7

7,623
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 14
 * November 7
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 128–134
 * Lenny Wilkens (32)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 6–8

2,448
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 15
 * November 8
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 111–105
 * Dick Snyder (30)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 7–8

11,022
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 16
 * November 10
 * New York
 * W 93–91
 * Dick Snyder (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 8–8

6,961
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 17
 * November 13
 * Cleveland
 * W 111–91
 * Dick Snyder (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 9–8

3,189
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 18
 * November 16
 * Buffalo
 * L 103–112
 * Dick Snyder (20)
 * Portland, OR
 * Portland, OR
 * Portland, OR
 * 9–9

9,717
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 19
 * November 19
 * Los Angeles
 * W 111–110
 * Don Kojis (26)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–9

4,211
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 20
 * November 20
 * @ San Diego
 * L 106–121
 * Three players (17)
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * 10–10

11,316
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 21
 * November 21
 * San Diego
 * L 114–115
 * Lee Winfield (36)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 10–11

11,763
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 22
 * November 22
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 124–149
 * snyuder (29)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 10–12

7,192
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 23
 * November 26
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 115–126
 * Lee Winfield (19)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 10–13

10,024
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 24
 * November 27
 * San Francisco
 * W 101–96
 * Lenny Wilkens (31)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 11–13

12,965
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 25
 * November 29
 * Atlanta
 * W 130–107
 * Lenny Wilkens (41)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 12–13

17,449
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 26
 * December 1
 * @ New York
 * L 109–114
 * Lenny Wilkens (29)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 12–14

1,823
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 27
 * December 2
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 119–111
 * Don Kojis (30)
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * 13–14

3,050
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 28
 * December 4
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 116–131
 * Don Kojis, Dick Snyder (22)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 13–15

5,922
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 29
 * December 5
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 100–106
 * Lenny Wilkens (17)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * 13–16

3,584
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 30
 * December 8
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 107–104
 * Three players (21)
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * The Spectrum
 * 14–16

4,608
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 31
 * December 9
 * @ Boston
 * L 121–136
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 14–17

10,685
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 32
 * December 11
 * Los Angeles
 * L 118–126
 * Don Kojis (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–18

12,627
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 33
 * December 13
 * Milwaukee
 * L 107–124
 * Don Kojis (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–19

2,218
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 34
 * December 16
 * @ San Francisco
 * L 91–108
 * Lenny Wilkens (28)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 14–20

4,739
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 35
 * December 17
 * Philadelphia
 * L 117–125
 * Lee Winfield (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 14–21

6,443
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 36
 * December 19
 * Phoenix
 * W 135–131
 * Don Kojis (36)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 15–21

5,702
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 37
 * December 20
 * San Diego
 * L 108–110
 * Lenny Wilkens (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 15–22

8,827
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 38
 * December 22
 * New York
 * W 119–108
 * Tom Meschery, Lenny Wilkens (20)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 16–22

10,806
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 39
 * December 26
 * Boston
 * W 124–117
 * Dick Snyder (29)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 17–22

12,935
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 40
 * December 30
 * Chicago
 * W 128–109
 * Dick Snyder (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 18–22

9,012
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 41
 * January 1
 * Portland
 * W 121–118
 * Lenny Wilkens (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 19–22

8,835
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 42
 * January 4
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 110–124
 * Don Kojis (24)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 19–23

4,631
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 43
 * January 5
 * @ Baltimore
 * L 101–109
 * Lenny Wilkens (27)
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * Baltimore Civic Center
 * 19–24

4,152
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 44
 * January 6
 * @ Boston
 * L 112–137
 * Dick Snyder (26)
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * Boston Garden
 * 19–25

3,024
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 45
 * January 8
 * @ Buffalo
 * W 110–102
 * Lenny Wilkens (30)
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
 * 20–25

3,879
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 46
 * January 9
 * @ Cincinnati
 * W 114–110
 * Don Kojis (29)
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * Cincinnati Gardens
 * 21–25

7,093
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 47
 * January 14
 * Baltimore
 * W 114–110
 * Lenny Wilkens (34)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 22–25

7,557
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 48
 * January 17
 * Baltimore
 * L 96–111
 * Lenny Wilkens (20)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 22–26

5,287
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 49
 * January 19
 * @ Detroit
 * L 102–106
 * Spencer Haywood (24)
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * Cobo Arena
 * 22–27

4,661
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 50
 * January 20
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 112–108
 * Lenny Wilkens (24)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum
 * 23–27

12,657
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 51
 * January 22
 * Cincinnati
 * W 132–131 (OT)
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 24–27

12,841
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 52
 * January 24
 * Philadelphia
 * L 119–145
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 24–28

7,452
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 53
 * January 28
 * Buffalo
 * W 120–110
 * Dick Snyder (35)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 25–28

12,547
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 54
 * January 29
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 115–122
 * Dick Snyder (26)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 25–29

10,412
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 55
 * January 30
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 116–134
 * Spencer Haywood (29)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 25–30

8,813
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 56
 * February 2
 * @ Chicago
 * L 101–118
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 25–31

2,515
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 57
 * February 3
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 98–95
 * Lenny Wilkens (30)
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * Cleveland Arena
 * 26–31

13,136
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 58
 * February 5
 * Atlanta
 * L 120–121 (OT)
 * Lenny Wilkens (30)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–32

8,259
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 59
 * February 7
 * San Diego
 * L 107–124
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 26–33

4,192
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 60
 * February 9
 * @ San Diego
 * L 115–132
 * Spencer Haywood (22)
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * 26–34

2,913
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 61
 * February 10
 * @ San Francisco
 * L 122–133
 * Spencer Haywood (26)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 26–35

13,013
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 62
 * February 11
 * Cincinnati
 * W 119–101
 * Dick Snyder (31)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 27–35

7,313
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 63
 * February 12
 * @ Portland
 * L 125–137
 * Lee Winfield (23)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 27–36

10,529
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 64
 * February 14
 * San Francisco
 * W 146–101
 * Spencer Haywood (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 28–36

6,679
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 65
 * February 17
 * Portland
 * W 130–126
 * Dick Snyder (25)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–36

12,685
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 66
 * February 19
 * Milwaukee
 * L 112–128
 * Dick Snyder (31)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 29–37

8,003
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 67
 * February 21
 * Philadelphia
 * W 135–128
 * Lenny Wilkens (28)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 30–37

5,631
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 68
 * February 24
 * Cleveland
 * W 123–101
 * Dick Snyder (24)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 31–37

14,294
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 69
 * February 26
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 121–145
 * Tom Meschery (24)
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * The Forum
 * 31–38

10,801
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 70
 * February 27
 * Chicago
 * L 114–129
 * Don Kojis, Lee Winfield (20)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 31–39

9,810
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 71
 * March 2
 * Atlanta
 * L 116–128
 * Dick Snyder (22)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 31–40

10,138
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 72
 * March 5
 * @ San Diego
 * W 111–110
 * Dick Snyder (28)
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * 32–40

12,949
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 73
 * March 6
 * Los Angeles
 * W 121–109
 * Don Smith (21)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 33–40

10,746
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 74
 * March 8
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 99–104
 * Spencer Haywood (30)
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * Milwaukee Arena
 * 33–41

19,500
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 75
 * March 9
 * @ New York
 * W 114–99
 * Don Smith (37)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 34–41

5,681
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 76
 * March 11
 * Detroit
 * W 130–97
 * Don Smith (29)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 35–41

5,122
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 77
 * March 12
 * @ San Francisco
 * L 98–111
 * Spencer Haywood (23)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 35–42

5,810
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 78
 * March 14
 * Baltimore
 * W 124–121
 * Spencer Haywood (35)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 36–42

8,970
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 79
 * March 18
 * Milwaukee
 * W 122–121
 * Don Smith (28)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 37–42

11,140
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 80
 * March 19
 * @ Portland
 * L 128–135
 * Spencer Haywood (32)
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 37–43

7,134
 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 81
 * March 20
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 107–114
 * Jake Ford, Gar Heard (17)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 37–44

7,634
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 82
 * March 21
 * San Francisco
 * W 119–106
 * Dick Snyder (23)
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * Clarence S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
 * 38–44

Player statistics

 * Statistics with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Awards and records

 * Lenny Wilkens was named Most Valuable Player at the 1971 NBA All-Star Game.

Overview
The Sonics signed Haywood as a free agent after he spent a season with the American Basketball Association's Denver Rockets, who signed Haywood after his sophomore year at the University of Detroit Mercy under a hardship clause. Because eligibility rules of the National Basketball Association at the time required a span of four years after high school graduation for a player to be picked by any team, a legal battle ensued, with the federal court ruling in favor of Haywood.